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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

ようとする (you to suru)

～ようとする — “try to ～ / be about to ～”

In short · Has two meanings: making an effort to do something, and being at the point of starting an action. It attaches to the volitional form of a verb + とする. With a time clause (ようとした時), it means “just as I was about to ～”.
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Pattern

  • 動詞意志形＋とする try to do ～ (an effort)
  • 動詞意志形＋とした時／と思ったら just when about to do ～

Trying

自分で問題を解こうとする姿勢: the attitude of trying to solve problems yourself. The focus is on the attempt, not the result. It is also used for forced or difficult attempts.

About to do

家を出ようとすると、電話が鳴った: just as I tried to leave, the phone rang. The action was interrupted, so it often is followed by something that blocks it.

Different from ～ようとしない

～ようとしない is the negative (“won’t try”). Also different from ～ようにする (“make an effort to keep doing”), which is about habit or care rather than one specific attempt.

Examples

  • 家（いえ）を出（で）ようとすると、電話（でんわ）が鳴（な）った。

    Ie o deyou to suru to, denwa ga natta.

    When I tried to leave home, the phone rang.

  • 立（た）ち上（あ）がろうとした時（とき）、足（あし）がしびれて動（うご）けなかった。

    Tachiagarou to shita toki, ashi ga shibirete ugokenakatta.

    When I was about to stand up, my leg was numb and I couldn’t move.

  • 自分（じぶん）で問題（もんだい）を解（と）こうとする姿勢（しせい）が大切（たいせつ）だ。

    Jibun de mondai o tokou to suru shisei ga taisetsu da.

    The attitude of trying to solve problems on your own is important.

Common mistakes

  • It does not say the attempt succeeded. 立ち上がろうとした can mean the person failed to stand.
  • Use the volitional form (出よう), not the dictionary form (×出るとする).

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